Tuesday, July 30, 2013

30 Minute Workout and 3 Fitness Myths

No lifting for me today, but I have some great fitness videos and workouts for you.

"Love the passion" - that's what one viewer said about my new Fitness Myths video
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zqD-A6Loik

Here's a 30-minute workout from start to finish (including warm-up) that I know you'll love. It's from the Thermo 30 program that was on my list of Top 10 workouts of all time
- http://j.mp/Thermo30TTWorkoutA

But remember:
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Bruce Lee

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Get work done early. Contact others everyday – network. Help others. Follow a system. Track your efforts and focus on what works. Never quit. If you stumble, get back up. And build a support network to help you make it through the dip.

Debt. Avoid it like the plague. Mark Ford shares two steps to help you get out of debt fast (most people are NOT doing this)
- http://j.mp/GetOutOfDebtFast

And instead of taking on debt, you're better off to give!

Add value to someone’s life. Give a gift of help today to a friend, student, family member or even a stranger. Helping others will help you more than it will help them. You can’t outgive the Universe.
Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Do you have the four factors of basic happiness in place in your life?

Read about them, and my BIG mistake, here:
- http://j.mp/4FactorsOfHappiness

Monday, July 29, 2013

Catching Up on Workouts and Travel

Been busy, so time to catch up on some workouts. Yesterday was a fantastic session at the local YMCA.

Deadlifts, box jumps, leg curls, db split squats. Boom - that was it.

Today will be a workout in the garage and backyard with the 35, 44, 53, and 70 pound kettlebells I have. There will be snatches, presses, farmer walks, and close-grip pushups with hands on the handles. I'll do lots of abs with the power wheel as well.

Then it's back on the road to Toronto. On Wednesday, I'm off to Lithuania for our annual www.BlackSmithCamp.com adventure - including a side trip to Croatia and a night in Frankfurt on the way home. Looking forward to a little bit of Euro cafe culture along the way. Need to get out of my regular environment and see things differently for a while.

And don't forget, there are just 3 days left in the July Diet Depletion Challenge. What can you change? It's just 3 days!
- http://www.earlytorise.com/3-day-diet-depletion-challenge/

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Test & track everything you do. Become the world’s most important science experiment. Aim to establish cause & effect in your life. Take a look at what every daily decision leads to in your life, then determine if the daily decision is right for you - or must it change?

There's nothing wrong with starting with one small change in your life, turning it into a victory, and using that as the foundation to change your world. Start with one. One simple daily habit. That is how we win.

“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can’t control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.” – Epictetus

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Not every week is as good as this one will be...

Here's how I made a big biz mistake, but then got help from a friend and turned things around
- http://www.earlytorise.com/how-i-wasted-my-money-but-regained-my-happiness/

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

101 Reasons my Friends Hate Craig Ballantyne

Here are 101 reasons to hate Craig Ballantyne. It's a funny list followed by a great workout video. And you know, it was an interesting way to find out what people think about you.

- http://www.earlytorise.com/reasons-to-hate-craig-ballantyne/

Now here are the 101 reasons and reps to hate Craig Ballantyne...the video is here...enjoy my suffering:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvma_JuaYf0

Now for some Diet Motivation:

There is just ONE week left of ‪#‎DietDepletion‬ …stay strong…what can you avoid for the rest of july?

For just 7 days? Can you give up booze? Cigarettes? Swearing? Chocolate? Bread? Candy? Caffeine?

Just pick ONE thing, and then WIN. This victory will set off a cascade of bigger wins, triumphs, and permanent changes in your life that will bring you closer to what really matters to you – your ultimate goals.

Stay strong and keep on pushing until August 1st!

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
You MUST plan ahead. You MUST stay strong, lean on your social support (that's us, right here!), and keep on looking for healthier alternatives to bad habits. Our bad habits MUST be attacked head-on. We MUST overcome fear and destroy weakness. It will not get better by avoiding it. Instead, become what I call, "a Nike Robot"...and...Just do it. I believe in you. Take action today.

Get a small WIN and move yourself ahead.

“Reward yourself. Having big goals is awesome, but you must set smaller “milestone” goals too. These are goals that you can reach on a regular basis and reward yourself for by doing something cool. Savor the moment and then set the next goal.” – Bedros Keuilian

By the way, my friend Travis on FB asked me, "Craig, what's your number one goal?"

My answer:
To help 10,000,000 men and women transform their lives physically, financially, and emotionally!

Thanks for asking!

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Need to hit your body's restart button?

Many believe this way of eating is the answer
- http://www.earlytorise.com/eat-stop-eat-now/

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

101 Reasons to Hate Craig B video is up

LOL. Here's the funniest video you'll watch all day.
 
101 Reasons to Hate Craig B. - YouTube.com/watch?v=Fvma_JuaYf0
 
That was a lot of fun to film. Enjoy my suffering. And let me know your time on my TT Facebook page here.
 
Now for your 2nd challenge...this one is much more serious.
 
I want you to ask yourself an important question...one that might change your life. 
 
 
Many readers are calling it the best article I've ever written, and how they it was perfect because they really needed to hear this message.
 
It contains the toughest question you'll ever have to answer
 
 
And tomorrow I'll bring you the 10 most UNDER-rated workout tips in the world.
 
It will change your life for the better,
 
Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer
 
PS - If you're a trainer...
 
...and you are ready to change your life and the lives of thousands of other people like these Certified Turbulence Trainers:
 
- Kate Vidulich, CTT
- Mikey Whitfield, CTT
- Shawna Kaminski, CTT
- Brian Kalakay, CTT
- Ray Ortiz, CTT
- Chris Lopez, CTT
 
 
Let's do this!
Ugh. Started the day off by cleaning up dog puke. Ol' Bally the Dog was given too many table scraps by his Grandma last night. He started getting sick around 4am. He's fine, of course, but when I take him back over there for his next vacation, she'll need to stick to feeding him dog food.

Today I am headed back to the gym after yesterday's glorious outdoor KB session.

My workout will be KB swings, Barbell Squats, Front Squats, and Leg Curls. Also, there will be some torso training including the Power Wheel and perhaps even some funky Dumbbell Bear Crawls.

That sounds like a good time. But do you know what my best workout is? Check this out...

The Winner of the Best Fat Burning Workout in the World has been announced:
- http://www.earlytorise.com/top-10-turbulence-training-workouts-of-all-time-2/

Of course, diet is so important when it comes to fat loss. So take a look at this. From my dear friend, Diana Keuilian, here are over 200 real food, kid-friendly recipes:
- http://realhealthyrecipes.com/category/fun-kid-favorites/

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
People who get results in the gym have a written plan/a structured program designed by a professional telling them how many sets and reps to use for each exercise, how long to rest, and every single minute in the gym is planned for. The same goes for nutrition. Every meal, every calorie, is accounted for in advance. Nothing is left to chance. If things were to be left up to the client, they’d blow it every time taking the easy way out.

It’s that simple. That’s integrity. Nothing is left to chance when you live by your personal rules.

“When you are not acting with integrity, your relationship with yourself, your associates, and your organization will suffer. When you are operating with integrity, you are coming from a place of wholeness, harmony, and connection.” – Dr. Gay Hendricks

"Act with integrity. Live up to your idea of who you are." - Frank McKinney

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Monday, July 22, 2013

Top 10 TT Workout Countdown

Today's session was a good backyard workout of kb snatches, overhead squats, cleans, presses, farmer's walks, pullups, and other assorted goodies.

Want to know more about my best workouts? Check out the Top 10 TT Workout Countdown:
- http://www.earlytorise.com/top-10-turbulence-training-workouts-of-all-time-2/

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Simplify.

We all are under a lot of pressure these days, but if you stop and take a look at it, you’ll notice a lot of it is self-imposed.

But do you put pressure on yourself for the right reasons? Are you powering yourself to your peak potential or are you simply trying to keep up with the Joneses?

Look at all of the things you are doing now. Do they need to be done? Look at all of the things you have. Do you need to have them?

Cut back. Say no. Simplify your life. Simplify your desires. Stop comparing yourself to others. Control what you can control. Ignore all else. Identify what really matters.

Do more of what does and less of what doesn’t.

Keep on pushing on what really matters – only.

Simplify - to make more intelligible!

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - One thing we don't want to become is...

...someone that talks a big game but doesn't take much action. If that's you, in any area of life, then it's time to take a long look at why you're holding yourself back
- http://j.mp/YourToughestQuestion

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Circuit Challenge Workout of 101 Reps

On Saturday morning, while you were enjoying the newspaper and your coffee, I was filming this lung-busting workout challenge.

I did this follow-along style and we'll post the video soon. I did the challenge in a gut-busting 9 minutes, 30 seconds. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do the 20 pull-ups Ironman style, but everything else was done that way.

1) Deadlift x 21 (using your bodyweight on the bar - I rounded up to 185 pounds, putting a 45 and 25 pound plate on each side) - Ironman style (all reps were done in a row with no rest)!
2) Spiderman Pushup x 20 per side - Ironman style!
3) BGSS BW x 20 per side - Ironman style!
4) Pullup x 20 - broken down into 4 sets of 5 - No Ironman, sad face! :(
5) Burpee x 20 - Ironman style!

Whew.

Great times. This is Workout C of the TT Aug WOM for www.TTMembers.com. Follow-along vid will be up this week.

Your time? Anyone do this Ironman style (without any rests within the exercise)?

That was followed by a hearty dinner last night:

4 eggs, 4 pieces bacon, bok choy, 1 apple, 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter, 1 tablespoon raw almond butter, big bowl of grapes & strawberries, Athletic Greens

Off to the local market today for almond yogurt, grain-free granola, wild fish, and grass-fed beef.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
"A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance." - Hunter S. Thompson

When it’s all said and done, and you look back upon your life, what do you want your legacy to be? Think of this in terms of your family, fitness, & finances. Then make the right decisions now to leave the best legacy later.

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Friday, July 19, 2013

12 minute workout and Youtube filming

Finally got back in front of the camera and filmed some wicked and unique workouts and tips for YouTube. And wow, did I get smoked by a 5-minute chest workout...that will be part of TT 2.0, coming Sept 3rd. Great times in the gym today!

Why suffer through a long, boring cardio workout like this poor woman when you can get a 12-minute bodyweight workout video that's 3x more effective at burning fat. Get it FREE here
- http://j.mp/FreeZeroEquipmentWorkout

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Leave nothing to willpower first thing in the morning. Instead, you must simply get up and go to it, taking robotic action. You must simply start. That’s the only way to overcome the procrastination that plagues us all.

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Deadlifts and Youtube Filming

After yesterday's workout of deadlifts, box jumps, split squats, and leg curls, I'm heading down to Michigan this morning for a filming day with CTT, Brian Kalakay. Big list of TT 2.0 bonuses and youtube videos to film. Should be fun and fatiguing.

It's not a "normal" off day, that's for sure. So I'll take Saturday off from training, and maybe Sunday too.

On your “off days” or “recovery days”, you should stay as active as possible, getting at least 30 minutes of exercise and doing some type of stress relieving activity. You need to stay active and reduce stress and ENJOY yourself on your off days. Doing a fun activity you look forward to is a little known component of an effective, long-term weight loss plan. Follow those 3 secrets and you’ll get your fat loss back on track.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Learn to love the challenges you have been given in life. Make it your goal to make progress in overcoming them each day. The reward will be in the journey.

Speaking of challenges - here are a few hardcore conditioning challenges for you
- http://www.earlytorise.com/jump-rope-workout-challenge/

And here's an eating challenge for you. Look past the misconceptions, and you'll discover many who believe this way of eating is like hitting the reset button for your entire body:
- http://j.mp/YourBodysResetButton

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Great Diet and Upper Body Workout

Great workout and nutrition update for you today.

Workout was all #meathead - an upper body annihilation. Here's how it went.

1A) Bench Press
1B) Chin-up

2A) Pull-up Laddders 3x5to1
2B) DB Chest Press

3A) Decline Pushup
3B) Bodyweight Row

#‎DietDepletion‬ is still going 100% strong for me! Some of my latest meals include...

Sunday Brunch: "Ballantyne omelet" of 4 organic eggs, ½ avocado, spinach, mushrooms, & onions, cooked in coconut oil. Plus steamed broccoli with organic tomato sauce, and some kimchi. Dessert was 30 cherries, 0.5L water

Lunch: Salmon with lime and cilantro, steamed broccoli with tomato sauce and garlic, 15 cherries, 1 apple, 1 teaspoon almond butter, 3 slices watermelon.

Dinner tonight will be another go at the portabella mushroom burger (using the mushroom as the bun and a delicious Rowe Farms beef burger inside). So darn good, and 100% according to plan.

Stay strong on your diet depletion and keep me updated on the TT page here.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill … Keep on going, I believe in you!

Don’t say, “Oh I can’t do that.” You might not be able to do it perfectly, but you can get better at it…you can get better at everything. Shrug off your natural inclination to dismiss your ability. Sure, you might never be a pro fitness model, but you can always improve your habits. So show up. Do the work. Get better. Stay positive. Keep on pushing everyday. You’ll be amazed at where that gets you in life.

Begin by doing the right thing – the hard thing – and get out of your own comfort zone and take action. Here's my most recent personal growth story I would like to share with you and how you can do the same
- http://j.mp/YourPersonalGrowth

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - What can you change TODAY?

“From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do – now.” – The Art of Living

Monday, July 15, 2013

No Quitting

What are you going to do, quit because it’s hard? Quit because success didn’t come overnight? Quit because someone said you couldn’t?

NO.

You’re better than that. You’re going to keep on pushing, learning, and growing, and never, ever give up on what is important to you.

And kick those bad habits to the curb.

Bad habits are like Gremlins. Don’t feed them. Every day it will get a little easier. Avoid tempting environments and peer pressure. Excuse yourself from those situations. Starve the bad habit. Weaken it, strengthen yourself.

Here are 2 great articles for you to kick-off the week.

How to experience personal growth:
- http://www.earlytorise.com/how-to-experience-personal-growth/

And how to get more done:
- http://www.earlytorise.com/how-to-get-more-done-2/

Start your week right! Avoid time vampires, negative peer pressure, tempting environments, and bad habits. It’s your life and that matters more than what other people think of you.

Plus, 10 things to do for a better life (I'm 9/10 but off in #6 lately). You?
- www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/
...please SHARE and help someone out today!

And of course, some training tools, too.

At the TT summit, back in June, my buddy and CTT, Mike Whitfield from Workout Finishers busted out this weird ab finisher that stirred up a lot of ugly looks and few claps LOL
- http://j.mp/WeirdAbExercise

To a great week,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Delicious Diet Depletion Dinners

What a fantastic summer weekend. Had dinner last night at a friend's place and they were really nice and cooked according to #DD for me.

2 boneless chicken thighs in curry sauce (Diet Depletion-friendly), broccoli, sautéed zucchini, mushrooms, onions, spinach and garlic, (skipped all the rice), tomato sauce, 0.5L water

Later at home I had an apple and almond butter.

This morning was a squat workout where I also tried out a few new exercises for the August TT workout of the month. These included superman planks and toes-elevated RDL's.

You'll get that workout here: www.TTmembers.com

Today's brunch: Ballantyne omelet: 4 organic eggs, ½ avocado, spinach, mushrooms, & onions, cooked in coconut oil. Plus steamed broccoli with organic tomato sauce, and some kimchi. Dessert was 30 cherries, 0.5L water

Now it's beach time.

Tonight is a burger with portabella mushroom caps as the bun.

Here's the epic tale of the 5-Napkin Bunless Burger ... and Kitchen Clutz Craig Cooking
- http://www.earlytorise.com/5-napkin-bunless-burger/

But wait, what's the deal with Diet Depletion?

The ‪#‎DietDepletion‬ challenge program shows you how to overcome eating obsessions in your life. It gives you the strength and power to go without “food crutches” and “comfort foods” for long periods. You build control, boost willpower, one day, one hour, one minute, one meal, one choice, one bite at a time.

The month-long, increasing-in-intensity Diet Depletion Challenge is fun, fast, and harnesses the power of the five pillars (planning/prep, public accountability, social support, rewards/incentives, and the deadline/call to action) for automatic success.

Learn more about the free challenge here:
- https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/dietdepletion

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Stay strong!

"Regardless of what is going on around you, make the best of what is within your power, and take the rest as it occurs." – Epictetus

Have a great week,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Friday, July 12, 2013

Diet Depletion Meals and 21-day plan

Yesterday while I was interviewing Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser, I discovered his #1 trick for fat loss dieting. I do NOT agree with it.
 
Bob says to drink a large glass of water before every meal. But honestly, that can distend your stomach and leave you bloated. I hate that feeling. Here are much better tricks for rapid fat loss dieting:
 
 
BTW, all this focus on summer nutrition fat loss plans and my #DietDepletion program have led me to become  a mad scientist in the kitchen recently. First, check out this dinner from the other night:
 
 
 
I know, I know, I'm a worse photographer than I am a cook, but here's what was in the giant skillet:
 
- 8oz chipotle marinated beef tenderloin 
- brussel sprouts
- zucchini
- mushrooms 
- onions
 
It was fantastic.
 
But the other night I cooked up something much, much crazier.
 
And I'll tell you all about it tomorrow (with an AMAZING photo, too).
 
In the meantime, just follow this simple 21 day eating trick and you'll be on your way to a flatter belly in just 3 weeks:

==> 21 Day eating trick for FAST fat loss (start using this today)

Enjoy your weekend meals,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer 
 
PS - My fridge is loaded with Diet Depletion-friendly foods...
 
...as you'll see, it's full of fresh produce. And here's a research proven trick for you...Studies have found that people consume more of the foods that are left at eye-level in the fridge.
 
So if you want your family to eat healthy, put the healthy foods front-and-center, and hide the junk at the bottom and in the back. You might even forget it is there. (Or better yet, don't have it at all, of course!)
 
 
Feel free to rummage around in there and check everything out. Just make sure to put everything back where you found it, especially the cherries!
 

Day of Diet Depletion

As much as I love my job, I love the feeling in the air of a Friday. I still work a lot, but I like how relaxed it feels.

Today I started with nearly 2 hours of thinking and writing with just a pen and notepad. Also wrote a thank you letter to a mentor and will put it in the mail today.

3:45am – 1.5L (liters) water & writing --- YES, I do get up that early every day.

4:30am – Green Tea, Decaf Green Tea

7am – Dog walk

8:00am-Meditation

8:30am –Green Tea & Daily Document Reading & More writing...and posted "Truth about fasting" from @bradpilon (+ new TT podcast interview with Brad coming soon!)
- http://www.earlytorise.com/the-truth-about-fasting/

10:00am – Athletic Greens Drink, Workout: Military press, shrugs, arms, abs

11:30am – dog walk

12:30pm – 2oz mixed nuts & some cacao nibs, salmon with lime and cilantro and grilled mixed vegetables in olive oil - eggplant, asparagus, peppers - (purchased from a store), steamed broccoli and tomato sauce, 30 cherries, 3 slices watermelon. Really great. 0.5L water

2pm – Writing & Email: 1L water ... And just posted pics from the TT Summit 2013! Can you find yourself, if so, tag the photo => http://j.mp/TTSummit2013Photos

4pm - Call scheduled with business partner

4:30pm – Dog walk

6pm РDinner Plan: 2 boneless chicken thighs in curry sauce (Diet Depletion-friendly), saut̩ed zucchini and mushrooms and onions and spinach and garlic, broccoli, tomato sauce, and 1 apple and 1 tablespoon almond butter, 0.5L water

7pm – Will go for Dog walk down to the beach - Enjoy the weekend!

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Do you let weekends RUIN your results? If so, it's time to take a different approach to life. What can you change in your routine? What can you fix in your weekend diet? ‪#‎WeekendWisdom‬ & ‪#‎DietDepletion‬

- "If you want to accomplish anything, get out of your comfort zone & increase order and discipline in your life."-Kekich Credo #1

Also, I've started listening to 30-minutes of classical piano music on Youtube every day while I work. Here are 10 research proven benefits:

http://www.drjoetoday.com/ten-studied-effects-of-classical-music-on-the-brain/

Stay strong and true to yourself,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS -  FINALLY cancelled my cable. 

Haven't turned my TV on in months. The only thing I will miss is Saturday morning English Premier League games, but www.tsn.ca shows all the highlights on video on Monday...so I don't miss any great goals. Everything I watch is now on my computer. Now to sell the TV?

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Tired Travis Workout Finisher

If you're looking for a fast finisher, or one to replace your workout because you're really busy, then here's what I want you to do.
 
After you warm-up (never skip your warm-up!), do this circuit:
 
1) KB Swing or Total Body Extension - 30 seconds
2) Goblet Squat - 30 seconds
3) Max Pushups - 30 seconds
- Rest 30 seconds and repeat two more times.
 
I call that "The Tired Travis" out of respect for our TT Summit Pushup champ, Travis Stoetzel. (I figure tiring him out with the two exercises before will bring his pushup number down!)
 
And if you enjoyed that, I have more great Hard-to-the-Core Finisher workouts for you. 
 
These are unique and unconventional ways to "finish" off your workouts the right way using different strength tools like kettlebells, sandbags, ropes, and sledgehammers.
Not only will you shred fat by using these super effective and intense workouts, you'll also keep and even build more lean, athletic muscle, but your chance to get these at 50% OFF ends TONIGHT.
Over the past couple of days, my buddy, and TT Summit Pushup Champion, Travis Stoetzel, has had his special HARDCORE workout finishers system set on a steep discount just for you and my other subscribers specifically.
He's about to up the price on this system TONIGHT. Tomorrow this special offer will be long gone and the price will INCREASE.

These workout finishers are for YOU if...
  • You're ready to BUST through your fitness barriers and break new records with your fat loss results (these will put you to the test and help you break new ground)
  • You're wanting more gains in lean, powerful muscle (these will attack you in ways you haven't trained before)
  • You're bored with your current routine and sick of the overall lack of progress (these 30+ finishers will bring new life to your training and unleash new results)
 

And check out how RIPPED Travis is from his style of training.
 
Train hard but safe but hard,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer
 
PS - Add these to your...
 
...July Diet Depletion plan and you'll lose an extra 5-7 pounds of belly fat this month alone.
 
Now is the time to get your best results ever.
 
Stay strong, keep pushing on, and I'll be back with a crazy Diet Depletion recipe that I made the other night...it was the messiest 5-napkin burger I ever did make!

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Diet Depletion and Fasting Facts for Fat Loss

By now you've heard about intermittent fasting (IF), but do you really know what IF is, and why and how people are using it?

My buddy Roman Fitness Systems gives you the low down here
- http://j.mp/RomanTalksIF

Bootcamp owners: mix up your training sessions with this TRX ab exercise from Fitness Games
- http://j.mp/BootcampTRXExercise

A catchy name for an awesome ab exercise...speaking of abs, here we go!

Abs! Try this circuit today:
- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/FreeAbWorkouts

11 motivation tips to keep you going on our ‎#DietDepletion challenge for July
- http://www.earlytorise.com/1-motivation-tip-plus-10-more-to-keep-you-going/

#DietDepletion - 1 week in and still 100% on track. Find out my challenge here (and make your own):
- http://www.earlytorise.com/diet-depletion-challenge-the-ballantyne-diet/

Today's
I know you’re up for the challenge. I know that you’ll never, ever, ever give up on what’s important… I believe in you.

"Make sure that you spend 80% of your time and energy on learning things that matter. Be like a shark looking for food. You want to be eating (learning) quality meat. Make friends with great teachers and find business mentors. Don't be too proud to ask for help. But recognize that the responsibility is always on you." – Mark Ford

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - It’s one of the biggest financial opportunities in America… It’s literally FREE MONEY.

And the numbers show that it’s likely you’re not taking advantage of it
- http://j.mp/YourFreeMoney

Sunday, July 07, 2013

New Workout and Diet Update

Off to the gym to start a new 4-week program.

First workout is squats, front squats, leg curls, and torso training.

Now for a diet update:

#DietDepletion - 1 week in and still 100% on track. Find out my challenge here (and make your own):
- http://www.earlytorise.com/diet-depletion-challenge-the-ballantyne-diet/

But as I just texted to Joel Marion as we compared meals (he had fajitas with homemade guacamole while I had a filet with guacamole from Madmexican.ca), "It was tough not to have a drink tonight, but that's the power of being accountable to 200,000 people!"

PS - Here's what it's in the Ballantyne fridge these days...there's some kimchi in the bottom left beside my Athletic Greens - go to:

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

And get some free workouts here:

1) For your abs:
- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/FreeAbWorkouts

2) In just 10 minutes:
- 10 minutes only to train? Try this
- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/freeworkout/index.shtml

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
New week. Start fresh. Let’s go! Identify all of the obstacles in your way, and then more important, come up with at least two solutions for every obstacle.

I know you’re up for the challenge. I know that you’ll never, ever, ever give up on what’s important… I believe in you.

Stay strong,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Friday, July 05, 2013

Diet Depletion Update after an Italian Restaurant

We are 5 days into the Diet Depletion and I have to ask:
 
How are things going for you right now?
 
I want you to let me know on Facebook here. Let me know if you 
are struggling and need help. We will find a solution for you. If this
week was bad, FORGET it...and move on. Look to be better starting
right now.
 
On a personal note, I'm 100% on target with my plan. Not a single
banned ingredient has passed my lips, even though I just went and 
had an amazing meal at a local Italian restaurant, Il Fornello. BUT...
there was ONE tough temptation...
 
You see, I had grilled calamari, a beet salad (no cheese), & grilled salmon
with vegetables.
 
The one temptation? It wasn't the bread, the cheese, the pasta, or even
dessert. 
 
It was silly old diet coke.

Now I don't usually drink diet soda, maybe once a week. But whenever I go
to a restaurant I always want to order it. Must be because I hang around John
Romaniello, and he'll drink a couple of them at each meal.
 
But I said no to diet soda and stuck with water. 

In general, diet soda should be a no-no on your diet. I don't know for sure if it's
bad for you (it hasn't killed any of my friends yet). And I do think it is 100x's
better than regular soda, but if you can, stay strong and stick to water.

I was able to do it because I made my goals PUBLIC to you and YOU are
holding me accountable. So I'm on my best behavior! :)
 
So let me know that you are getting great results and if I can help.
 
Back to my friend John, I'll give Roman credit because even though he might
be "off" on his diet soda habit, I know that he's right about 99% of the time
when it comes to training, like when he said this:
 
"While you can also do other workouts, like P90X, in your undies, I personally
believe Craig's Home Workout Revolution workouts are better than P90X. Plus,
Craig's workouts are less than 50% of the price of P90. And just as the name
implies, Craig and I believe that  his program will completely revolutionize the
way people workout at home
."
- John "Roman" Romaniello, NY Times Best-selling author
 
Thanks John.
 
So here's your FINAL reminder to get the exact workouts that John recommends:
 
You'll get the 51 bodyweight workouts from the original HWR program, PLUS
fourteen new bonus 4-Minute Miracle workouts and six 6-Minute Six-Packer
workouts - ALL done follow-along style. We'll do EVERY single rep and set
with you and encourage you along the way. It's a blast.
 
 
Enjoy the faster fat burning results you will get from HWR,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer
Creator, Home Workout Revolution - HWR
 
PS - John isn't the only BEST-selling author to recommend HWR...
 
...here's what my great friend, best-selling author, and world-famous
nutritionist Joel Marion just told his readers about HWR:
 
"I believe in these workouts so much, and because I want to see you
experience the same success that I currently am, I asked Craig
to give all my readers a discount for the next couple days on his brand
new Home Workout Revolution system and he AGREED.

==> Get $20 OFF Home Workout Revolution right here, right now

Listen, I really believe investing in this simple at home system is
going to spark a HUGE change in your life.  Why?  Because you'll
finally be free of the burden of the gym and you'll finally be able
to stick your workout program and follow through!

This is THE solution to you consistently working out, plain and simple.

It requires NO equipment, NO gym, and practically NO time.

Get your discounted copy at the link below right now.  Trust me,
you will thank me a million times over for this newsletter later.

==> Short, effective, practical, follow-along home workouts

This is the most practical, most effective fat-burning solution you
will ever come across.  Thank GOD Craig developed it for others
to use and benefit from.  It will change your life
." - Joel Marion
 
So save some money today and get your HWR workout and diet plan here:
 
 
But hurry, the Independence Day Sale ends tonight - NO extensions!
 
PPS - Joel says NO to diet cokes, too. He knows what he is talking
about for both training and nutrition!
 
PPPS - Combine Diet Depletion with HWR and you could lose...
 
...up to 5 pounds this weekend alone, totally reversing any damage that
you might have done this week at a holiday event.
 
DD + HWR = Your Best Results Ever

Underwear Workouts!

So you're reading this while wearing your undies right now. That's okay. Sometimes I...

...use FB without a shirt. Hey, that's what we do when home alone. We use the Internet half-naked. That's normal. No biggie.

Plus, it's hot today, right? That's why you're in your undies. And you don't want to go to the gym because you don't have no time (because you've spent all morning online in your undies - again, no big deal, it happens).

So here are 10 amazing fat burning workouts you can do in your undies right now. (Or for my UK friends, "in your knickers".) Seriously, as my awesome friend & fitness celebrity John Romaniello told his readers:

"YES, you can do workout in your undies...and there's no need to go to the gym because Craig's giving dozens of ways you can get a BETTER workout at home than you can at the gym."

Then John made a very BOLD statement:

"While you can also do other workouts, like infomercial DVDS, in your undies, I personally believe Craig's workouts are better than P90X. Plus, his workouts are less than 50% of the price of DVDs. And just as the name implies, Craig and I believe that his program will completely revolutionize the way people workout at home."
- John "Roman" Romaniello, NY Times Best-selling author

Nice! So here are the exact workouts you can do in your undies right now:

- http://www.homeworkoutrevolution.com/

After the holidays, it's always nice to have a meal that's quick and easy to make, without sacrificing taste or health. This beef and quinoa recipe from Beyond Diet is perfect
- http://j.mp/SuperEasyBeefandQuinoa

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
“For each important action you take, ask yourself if you would be embarrassed if it were published. It takes a lifetime of effort to build a good reputation, but only a moment of stupidity to destroy it.” – Kekich Credo #94

Legends go here to find success
- http://j.mp/TheSecretToSuccessLivesHere

And I'm really enjoying the book, "The Big Leap" by Dr. Gay Hendrics @loveconscious
 - http://www.thebigleap.net/

Also looking forward to the book http://dieempty.com/ from @toddhenry ...had never heard it said that way before...I like it.

Let me know what you think,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Thursday, July 04, 2013

Hot Dogs vs Upper Body Workouts

This week is a de-load week, meaning my workouts are light and quick. I'll start heavy again in just a few days.

Today was extra warm-up, using WYLIT and pushups, followed by light bench, then pull-up ladders (tough ones!), db chest presses, chin-ups, and then a few rounds of decline pushups supersetted with bodyweight rows.

Just a few weights in there, but don't worry, if your gym is closed, we're celebrating Independence Day with a special Home Workout Revolution sale that will free you from your gym
- http://www.homeworkoutsrevolution.com/

Now let's talk hot dogs...

8.8 seconds...that's how long it takes to eat a 4th of July Hot Dog. (If you're Joey Chestnut, who can eat 68 in 10 minutes.) 8.8 seconds x 3 hot dogs = less than a minute of pleasure VS 48 hours of guilt. Your choice today. No judgement...Just your choice. Stick to your plan. Do what is right for YOU.

Tough but true! You must pick the right friends to be around...

"People with low self-control make better choices when around those who know how to restrain themselves." Dr. Catherine Shea

Stay strong, and Happy 4th of July to my American friends!

Today's KickButt Independence Day Mindset Tips:

Take some time to think today, about this...

“Over and over again, we lose sight of what is important and what isn’t. We need to regularly stop and take stock; to sit down and determine within ourselves which things are worth the cost and which are not.’ – Epictetus

Discipline and responsibility are what separate the wannabes from the success stories. It takes discipline to save and work while others play, but that is your responsibility. Never forget: There is joy in discipline. There is great reward in the feeling you get at the end of a hard day's work, or when you wake up in the morning knowing that you beat your inner demons from the night before. Never forget that feeling. Never stray from what is really important to you.

Stay strong! I believe in you.

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Take action now...

"Delay feeds and empowers evil temptations. Only immediate action prohibits their power over you." - Dan Kennedy




And here are 2 great articles

1) From my friend, Richard Saunders. It's worth reading for both the detail in his writing, and his tips:
- http://www.earlytorise.com/where-the-real-secrets-are-found/

2) Start your Independence Day with a revealing historical lesson
- http://j.mp/ARevealingHistorialLesson

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Diet Depletion Update

Diet has been perfect so far over the 2.5 days since the Diet Depletion started.

Lunch today was, quite possibly, the best omelet I've ever cooked. It was my famous "Ballantyne" omelet (although I didn't have any mushrooms). In this omelet, we use avocado in place of cheese, along with double spinach, and four whipped up eggs. It's cooked in coconut oil.

That's it. So simple.

When you know what to eat and you have social support, accountability, a deadline, and motivation, it's quite easy to succeed.

#1 motivational tool - Believing in yourself. If you believe it, you can achieve it. If you believe in yourself, this time it will be different. This time you WILL succeed. This time you are in control and will make BIG changes. Keep on pushing. And never give up on what is important to you. I believe in YOU.

But if you're a beginner and need help, check this out. It's a free 30-day plan from my friend, Dr. Kareem Samhouri, on how to tackle diabetes
- http://drkareem.com/article/30-day-type-ii-diabetes-challenge-blood-sugar-insulin-nutrition-exercise/

Today's workout was a light squat workout because this is a deload week for me.

KB Swings, Squats, Good Morning, Plank, Side Plank. Nothing fancy.

In case you're wondering what 5 bodyweight exercises you should be adding to your program for maximum fat loss
- http://j.mp/5BestBodyweightExercisesForFatLoss

But remember...

The best fat loss book in the world is useless without implementation. Just start with 5 minutes if you don’t have motivation. All the planning in the world is no good if you don’t follow through. Be a robotic action-taker. Get it done!

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
"That which is most satisfying is that which is earned. Anything received free of charge is seldom valued." - Dave Kekich, Credo #38

Earn it!

Great article from my friend, Richard Saunders. It's worth reading for both the detail in his writing, and his tips: http://www.earlytorise.com/where-the-real-secrets-are-found/

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - TT Summit Workout 2K13 is now available for all TT Members
- www.TTMembers.com

PPS - Here's my blueprint for getting more done in less time
- http://j.mp/GetMoreDoneInLessTime

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

4-minute workout for July 4th

You know why I love this week?
 
Because thanks to July 1st (Canadia Day) and July 4th (Independence Day), I feel like I get TWO holidays in one week. Yesterday was my official holiday (spent BBQ-ing out on the farm) and Thursday (and Friday) will feel like a holiday because so many of my fitness colleagues will be taking those days off.
 
I hope you're going to have an amazing holiday weekend, no matter where you are in the world.
 
BUT...
 
Holidays bring CLOSED gyms. So here's your solution...a 4-minute, NO-equipment, bodyweight workout you can do anytime, anywhere.
 
 
And if you like that, you can celebrate your "Independence Day" from the gym with over a dozen more 4-minute workouts and six of my 6-Minute 6-Pack Abs follow-along workout videos here.
 
 
It doesn't matter if you're a man or woman, beginner or advanced, you'll get dozens of workouts that will challenge your fitness levels and help you burn fat all day long - even from SHORT workouts.
 
That's the power of the Home Workout Revolution System. Want more PROOF? Here are just a few of the Home Workout Revolutionary Success Stories...
 
"I just finished up the Home Workout Revolution 12 week program. Really enjoyed it. I'm really happy with the fat loss I was able to get during that time. I felt like my diet was pretty good but not great. I'm still working on that. I don't know how much bf% I lost during that time, but I would guess 5-6%. My starting weight was 162 lbs and my ending weight was 154 lbs. So I lost 8 pounds in 12 weeks while maintaining my muscle and toning. Overall I'm really happy." - Jim Talbert

"Being a busy working mom I don't have a lot of time to work out or go to the gym. I tried many other DVD workouts but can never stick with it because of the length of the program. Additionally, in most cases I had to exercise almost every day and I thought where is my life. But when started the Home Workout Revolution workouts my muscles were sore but I loved it. I am into my 2nd week of performing the exercises and I already have some definition in my thighs and abs. I lost 4lbs last week too. I look forward to doing these exercises because of the variation in length; they are not long and I feel as if I worked out for an hour and the fact that you are there sweating it out with me. I intend to continue until the 12 weeks are up and beyond that because they truly rock. I am can't wait to to show off my new body after 12 weeks. Thanks Craig, you are a life saver." - Annmarie from Trinidad

"Well done. Seriously good stuff, this is the best product of yours that I've seen. Great video, well-shot, great exercises, great energy. In fact, I just arrived to Ecuador after a 5+ hour flight, and didn't have time for the gym this morning. So I just popped into your HWR site and did:
1) Punisher Iso X
2) First half of 5 Rounds of 5
3) First half of Bodyweight Super Sets
No joke... I was smoked. Great stuff." - Simon Black, world traveler

"CB, As a public management professional, my time is at a premium. With all if the services I'm responsible for delivering on a daily basis and all the voices demanding more and more, I've little time for myself or my family. I've always been able to find time for my wife and children. She's a medical professional who commutes and works at least 3 days a week. My children are ages 6, 3 and 20 months old. As you can probably imagine, this time in their lives is not only incredibly fun but time consuming as well. It's the "me time" that's been hard to come by. The HWR systems have been one of the best investments I've made in pursuit of my fitness goals. I'm left with no excuses when some workouts take - literally - less than 15 mins. I know I can get a great workout in that amount of time and that I'm not feel shortchanged. Plus, they're extremely enjoyable. Thank you for such great product." - Josh Jones
 

"I've been using the Home Workout Revolution program for a few weeks now and have to say that I'm seriously impressed. There is such a wealth of quality information and workouts included with this program. The emphasis on good form during the exercises is making a big difference to my training and the videos provide much needed motivation when training solo. I've recently started my own business so time is an issue but with this system there are no excuses! It fits in great with my other training too (hills sprints, kettlebells, etc) and I also use some of the exercises for a functional warm-up in my martial arts sessions. The program is great value for money and one of the best investments I've made in my fitness training." - Andy Goodwin

"A Long Time Ago, I was looking for a way to workout, while being a stay at home mom, with young kiddos and not a lot of money! I found you and the Home Workout Revolution, and the answer to keeping me motivated (my most favorite part): THE VIDEOS!!! I love working out with you and your certified TT team! I think I am enjoying this program even more than before, because In LESS TIME, my body is completely worked out, all at home, with one set of weights. And watching the videos is like getting a personal trainer to come to my home 3 times a week, to help me work out and motivate me to keep going! So far, I've only lost 3 of the 20lbs I need to take off, but I'm sure that if I keep with the training I will soon see some AWESOME Results! Thanks Craig!" - Michelle Hays
 
I want YOU to be a success story too...and to enjoy more results from faster workouts. Let's do it. Let's celebrate your independence from the gym, from long workouts, and from expensive equipment. 
 
 
Take a holiday from the gym but keep on burning fat,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer
 
PS - You know why these short workouts work?
 
Because they dramatically boost a single fat-burning hormone in your body.
 
I'll tell you more about that tomorrow, and give you a longer fat burning bodyweight circuit for you too. 
 
Because I know you'll want one to burn off all of those July 4th burgers and ice cream.
 
 
Stay tuned for an awesome workout tomorrow!

Monday, July 01, 2013

Poem from Bally the Dog

Happy Canadia Day!

I'm off for a nice holiday #Meathead workout of Military Press, Shrugs, and Meathead Arms. I might do this at the YMCA or in the garage using kettlebells and TRX straps. Not sure. Will train in an hour. Depends on the weather, I think.

One of the big benefits of being Canadian and doing business with a lot of Americans is that you get a double holiday in May and July when Americans celebrate Memorial Day and July 4th. It's a double holiday because Canadians enjoy a relaxed pace of business on those days (well, at least I do), and we also get our own holidays a few days before the American dates (we celebrate the Monday before Memorial Day and Canada Day on July 1st).

That makes this an excellent week for me to get a lot of writing and workout prep done because I'll be receiving far fewer business emails. There's really only two business days this week - July 2nd and 3rd.

But while business will slow down, my health experiments are speeding up. You can read more about my Diet Depletion challenge - and the grocery list that goes with it - here:

- http://www.earlytorise.com/diet-depletion-grocery-list/

And here's some motivation to keep you going. It's a poem, originally created by Bally the Dog, but stolen by me to give to you:

You've made the decision,
You believe in yourself,
You'll keep on pushing,
You'll improve your health.

You'll fix your bad habits,
You'll change your old ways,
You'll never give up,
You'll achieve better days!

I'm right here with you,
I believe in you too,
I know WE can do this,
This is what we do!
- Dr. Ballanseuss

Stay strong!

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Hard work is good and honourable. Make it a great hard working week! “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained in sudden flight but, while their companions slept, they were toiling upwards in the night.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Get stronger,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - A business article for you:

http://www.earlytorise.com/what-you-need-to-succeed/